- As Otti’s wife flags off breastfeeding week
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The World Health Organisation, WHO, and UNICEF, respectively, have expressed concern over the soaring rate of infant and maternal mortality rate in Nigeria.
Both agencies which made this known on Monday during the flag off of the Round 1 of 2023 Exclusive Breastfeeding Week at Ubakala Umuahia Health Centre, pledged to sustain their efforts towards Improving maternal and child health.
Flagging off the exercise, Abia First Lady, Mrs Priscilla Otti, also registered her worries over the ugly development.
Mrs Otti who vowed to lead the campaign against the sad situation, called for synergy among the necessary stakeholders to stem the tide.
“Maternal and child deaths have remained on the increase lately and the annoying thing is that these deaths are preventable if we all work together putting in our best.
“Mortality from any preventable cause must be considered a violation of the
individual’s basic human rights and must be stopped,” she added.
Mrs Otti who urged mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding because of the inherent benefits promised her total support for the efforts to promote maternal and child health.
She appealed to mothers and caregivers to ensure children receive full doses of preventive tablets including vitamin A supplements and de-worming tablets.
“Any activity that will help to bring down the unacceptable high rate of maternal morality is very welcome activity and will receive the support of the Alex Otti’s Government,” she said.
The Abia First Lady called on all health care workers to re-examine and update their knowledge, practical skills and improve on interpersonal communication skills and attitude to work.
She solicited the cooperation of the media in sensitising the people to embrace health care services.
Mrs Otti commended the development partners including UNICEF and WHO for their continued support in the efforts to reduce infant and maternal mortality in the state.
In her remarks, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, said that Abia State Government would “fully equip” 296 primary health centres scattered across state.
The move, according to her, is to demonstrate Gov. Otti administration’s high regard for the health sector.
She said that Otti would spare no effort in stopping preventable deaths for Abians.
The SSA also said Governor Otti’s administration would prioritise the training of health care workers as part of efforts to reposition the health sector in the state.
She urged health workers to reciprocate the gesture by showing commitment for the good of all, promising to also motivate them.
